🗞️SKINCARE NEWS

Elf Beauty Acquires Hailey Bieber's Rhode for $1 Billion

Elf Beauty has acquired Hailey Bieber's skincare brand Rhode for $1 billion. Here’s a quick summary:

• Hailey Bieber's beauty and skincare brand Rhode has been acquired by Elf Beauty for $1 billion, pending approvals✅

• As founder, Hailey Bieber will expand her role as Chief Creative Officer and Head of Innovation, overseeing creative, product innovation, and marketing for Rhode💡

• Elf Beauty CEO Tarang Amin praised Rhode's rapid growth, achieving $212 million in net sales in less than three years with only 10 products📈

• The deal comprises $800 million in cash and stock, plus a $200 million earn-out based on future brand growth over three years⏳

• Rhode's success is attributed to its shareable product aesthetics, cultivation of a brand world beyond products, and Hailey Bieber's significant influence💫

• Rhode's recent retail debut at Sephora further boosted its credibility beyond direct-to-consumer sales🛍️

• This acquisition marks one of the most significant beauty deals in recent years. Rhode joins Naturium, Alicia Keys’ Soulcare, and makeup brand Well People, which were all acquired by Elf Beauty in recent years💄

Is “Clean” Skincare Losing its Luster?🤔  "Clean" Skincare Sales Decline as Consumers Prioritize Clinical Expertise

Despite past popularity, sales of "clean" skincare products are decreasing as consumers are increasingly opting for brands with clinical backing and expert recommendations. Here’s a quick summary:

• Consumer search for "clean" formulas was a major influence in the US skincare market pre-pandemic😷

• Concerns about synthetic ingredients fueled the clean beauty movement in the 2010s, emphasizing ingredient transparency🌿

• Circana analysts report that "clean" skincare sales are declining in the first quarter of 2025, indicating waning demand📊

• This decline is attributed to a lack of universally accepted criteria or regulation for "clean" beauty, causing consumer confusion📉

• Consumers are now gravitating towards skincare brands rooted in clinical expertise and endorsed by dermatologists, chemists, or other medical professionals👩🏽‍⚕️

• The "clean" trend has expanded beyond ingredients to include sustainability and ethical practices, and although "clean" skincare sales are down, the underlying principles of transparency and safety still resonate with consumers🛡️

📲SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS

Instagram Now Supports 3:4 Aspect Ratio for Photos📸

Instagram has introduced support for 3:4 aspect ratio photos. Here’s a quick summary:

• Instagram now supports the 3:4 aspect ratio for uploaded photos📐

• This new support means photos taken in 3:4 format will display exactly as shot in the app without stretching or altering the original photo🆕

• The update applies to both single-photo posts and carousel posts🔄

• The 3:4 aspect ratio is the native format for many phone cameras, making uploads more direct📸

• Instagram still supports 1:1 (square) and 4:5 aspect ratio photos🖼️

• Despite this photo update, video, particularly Reels, remains the dominant driver of engagement on Instagram🎥

🔥TRENDING TIKTOK & INSTAGRAM SOUNDS

Here are some trending sounds on Instagram and TikTok that can be used with “text on screen” videos or as background music for educational content🔥

📈SKINCARE BESTSELLERS

^{*The bestseller lists are dynamic and can change in real-time. The bestseller lists are compiled on Monday mornings.}

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Thanks for reading the DermFriends Newsletter. Stay tuned for more updates, tips, and trends next week!